Bryanston Distributing Company released The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in the United States on 11 October 1974.

This was unfortunate for the filmmakers, Bryanston, mostly due to incompetence, squandered the vast majority of profits. As I recall, Gunnar Hansen only ended up with a couple of thousand dollars. But such is the business of filmmaking. It ain’t pretty.

The film went on to spawn at least 8 other films. Most of them marginally successful. But they really don’t make a lot of sense. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre wasn’t great because of the amazing characters and backstory. In fact, I find these relatively weak. I’ve spent decades trying to figure out just why the film works so well.

I still don’t really know. There are two things that I return to.

1. The production design is fantastic. The house alone is creepy in the extreme. It really couldn’t be better.
2. Leatherface is a wonderful character because of his consternation. People keep coming to his house and he has to deal with it. Imagine a butcher who has random cows coming into his house and you get the idea. His behavior later in the film is far less interesting but that section has a lot of dramatic momentum.

At this point, I don’t watch the film. I’ve seen it a lot. See my article, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre vs The Happening: Comparison of Two Scenes. But now? I still love Tobe Hooper. But if I’m in the mood, I’ll watch The Funhouse or Spontaneous Combustion. And sometimes Eaten Alive. (I sometimes think Eaten Alive is his best film. There are times when nothing else but it satisfies.)

My point is that there are far too many derivative works. And not enough people have seen the original. And if you have managed not to see it after five decades, now is the time!

Other 11 October Birthdays and Releases

Filmmakers

• David Morse (1953-): Character actor in a wide range of films including The Long Kiss Goodnight and Drive Angry. He should have gotten an Oscar nomination for The Slaughter Rule.
• Joan Cusack (1962-): Actor known for Addams Family Values and War, Inc.
• Michael J Nelson (1964-): The second host of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
• Sean Patrick Flanery (1965-): Actor known for The Boondock Saints films.
• Luke Perry (1966-2019): TV star and film character actor in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Fifth Element.

Films

• The Black Scorpion (1957): Volcano releases giant scorpions.
• Countess Dracula (1971): Fictionalized story of Elizabeth Báthory.
• Black Christmas (1974): Slasher in a sorority house. Probably the first modern slasher and one of the best.
• Silver Bullet (1985): Small-town murders are due to a werewolf.
• The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996): A school teacher with amnesia realizes she is a secret agent.
• Pan’s Labyrinth (2006): A little girl discovers a fantasy world when she’s surrounded by fascist Spain.
• The Addams Family (2019): Excellent animated version of the usual characters.
• Little Monsters (2019): Adults protect kids from zombies.
• Terrifier 3 (2024): Art the Clown is back for Christmas.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.